A parliamentary panel raised concerns on Tuesday about contaminated drinking water in both urban and rural areas of Islamabad. Of the 127 tube wells in the federal capital, 22 were found unsafe for human consumption.
The Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources, chaired by Senator Shahadat Awan, discussed a survey conducted by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) in June 2024. The survey, shared by the Ministry of Water Resources secretary, revealed water quality issues in Islamabad.
The secretary informed the committee that out of 127 tube wells surveyed, 105 were deemed safe while 22 were unsafe. Similarly, out of 108 water filtration plants, 69 were found safe and 39 unsafe. Of the 12 waterworks in the city, seven were safe while five were unsafe. The situation in rural areas was even worse, with 33 out of 41 water sources being unsafe.
The survey highlighted the presence of two major contaminants—nitrates and microbial organisms—among the 37 parameters tested.
Senator Shahadat Awan expressed concern over the ongoing issue of unsafe water supply in the capital since 2019, calling the situation alarming. He urged the Ministry of Water Resources to collaborate with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and questioned why no action had been taken on unsafe tube wells despite previous reminders.
He recommended that the CDA conduct another round of tests, especially in light of water management officials claiming that 80% of the water situation in Islamabad had improved, which contradicted the findings of the June 2024 report. He also called for verification and analysis of the water supply sources to ensure accurate data.
In addition to contamination, Islamabad residents are also facing a water shortage. The city’s daily demand is around 220 million gallons per day (mgd), while the CDA supplies only about 70 mg, primarily from Simly Dam, Khanpur Dam, and tube wells. Rural areas rely on small water schemes or groundwater, but the underground water table is rapidly depleting.
Despite increasing groundwater stress and population growth, the CDA has not made significant efforts to expand the water supply. Projects such as Chiniot Dam, Shahdara Dam, and Chirah Dam (shared with Rawalpindi) have been proposed, but no construction has started. A major scheme to provide 100 mgd from Ghazi Barotha Dam, conceived in 2007 for Rawalpindi and Islamabad, also remains in the planning phase.
During a briefing on groundwater depletion in Balochistan, Senator Awan noted that no survey had been conducted since 2021. Citing the example of Iran’s groundwater crisis, he stressed the need for action in Pakistan. He also pointed out discrepancies in the data provided on the number of tube wells installed since 2015 and called for better management to prevent further degradation of water resources in Balochistan.
The secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources added that the worsening water situation in Balochistan was due to the failure to follow written directives. The chairman urged the Balochistan Irrigation Department to stop the installation of additional tube wells.
